On December 9, 2024, correctional officers assaulted Robert Brooks in transit from Mohawk Correctional Facility to Marcy Correctional Facility. They proceeded to punch, choke, and kick him to death in an exam room in the infirmary at Marcy. He died of his injuries early the next morning.
CANY responded to reports of the killing, citing its findings from a 2022 monitoring visit to Marcy Correctional Facility.
The Albany Times Union’s Brendan J. Lyons broke the
New York Attorney General Letitia James released body-worn camera footage that her office obtained as part of its ongoing investigation into the death of Robert Brooks at Marcy Correctional Facility in Oneida County.2024-12-27 00:00:00
Attorney General James Releases Footage from Investigation into Death of Robert Brooks
When the Office of the Attorney General released the body-worn camera footage of Robert Brooks’ murder, the brutality of the culture CANY had previously documented within Marcy Correctional Facility was laid bare.
Jan Ransom, investigative reporter at the New York Times, looked into past allegations against the officers involved in Brooks’ beating death.
Gothamist reporter Giulia Heyward wrote that findings similar to those in CANY’s report on Marcy were detailed in two federal lawsuits.
Gov. Kathy Hochul visited Marcy Correctional Facility following Brooks’ murder and subsequently issued a number of corrective actions, including a commitment of $2M in new funds to expand CANY’s oversight of and partnership with the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision.
Governor Hochul announced unprecedented reforms in the wake of Robert Brooks’ death, including a landmark commitment of $2M in new state funding to support CANY’s independent oversight of prisons in New York State.
CANY’s Recommendations to Improve Safety, Institutional Culture, and Living and Working Conditions within DOCCS Facilities are grounded in observations of prison conditions, interviews with individuals who live and work in correctional facilities, and data analysis
Host David Lombardo interviewed Executive Director Jennifer Scaife on the Capitol Pressroom about CANY’s new recommendations to address issues confronting NYS prisons and incarcerated individuals.
Jeongyoon Han reported for WXXI News.
Intrinsic to CANY’s oversight mission is publishing data about NYS prisons to promote transparency. In January 2025, CANY published a dashboard depicting the rate of workers’ compensation claims among correctional employees as reported by the State Workers’ Compensation Board and the NYS Insurance Fund.
“After footage of the killing of Robert Brooks sparked national outcry, Governor Kathy Hochul promised to fully equip New York prisons with cameras. The project has stalled for years.”
CANY submitted testimony to the Joint Legislative Public Hearing on the 2025 Executive Budget Proposal: Public Protection.
The NYS Legislature conducted a hearing on the proposed Executive Budget during which they heard from numerous stakeholders, including DOCCS Commissioner Daniel F. Martuscello, III and Robert Ricks, the father of Robert Brooks. Legislators pressed for accountability and reforms within NYS prisons.
In response to the unofficial strike, the Governor
“There is an ongoing strike by correction officers at several state prisons. The strike has entered its fifth day, with no clear end in sight.”2025-02-19 17:00:00
CANY talks latest prison strike
When COs at Collins Correctional Facility began an illegal work stoppage, and as the strike spread to other facilities, incarcerated individuals were thrust into chaotic and in some cases dangerous situations
On February 24, 2025, Oneida County Court Judge Robert Bauer unsealed an indictment returned by a specially empaneled Oneida County Grand Jury, which was convened exclusively to hear evidence in the
“In order to function in safety, facilities must operate on a foundation of mutual respect”2025-02-27 04:00:00
Commentary: NY's prisons need total overhaul
Near the mid-point of the illegal work stoppage, a group of correctional officers at Mid-State Correctional Facility, which is located across the street from Marcy Correctional Facility, fatally assaulted Messiah Nantwi.
Jan Ransom broke the news of the killing of Messiah Nantwi for the New York Times.
On March 1, 2025, 22-year-old Messiah Nantwi was fatally beaten by correction officers (CO) at Mid-State Correctional Facility. COs reportedly turned off their body-worn cameras, so there is no footage of the assault
According to a report issued by the NYS Office of Employee Relations,
“New York state’s prison system is reeling after a three-week unsanctioned strike by corrections officers. That ended about a week ago, and on Monday, Governor Kathy Hochul fired 2,000 prison guards for not returning to work.”
“Criminal justice experts say understaffing and trauma can contribute to prison violence. Mental health support and a sense of community may help.”
In February 2024, CANY staff conducted monitoring at Wallkill Correctional Facility, a medium-security prison for men located in Ulster County, NY.
“Prison reform is back in the headlines in New York State, following a massive strike by corrections officers.”
In March 2024, CANY staff conducted monitoring at Washington Correctional Facility, a medium-security prison for men located in Washington County, NY.
Amid significant uncertainty and looming federal cuts, the New York State Senate passed a State Fiscal Year 2025-2026 budget that included the following corrections initiatives:
In response to the crises in the prisons and recognition of the value of independent oversight, the FY25-26 enacted state budget included $3 million in new funding to support CANY’s work.
The purpose of the joint public hearing was examination of causes, contributing factors, and solutions for increasing safety of persons in custody, transparency, and accountability in correctional facilities operated by the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS)
On May 14, 2025, Jennifer Scaife, Executive Director of CANY, testified before the Senate Standing Committee on Crime Victims, Crime & Correction and the Assembly Standing Committee on Correction at a joint public hearing.
“The embattled prison chief took an optimistic tack, but family members of those killed by prison guards have little faith that reforms will be meaningful.”
The Legislature passed a landmark package of bills aimed at improving transparency and accountability in prisons. The sponsors provided the following justification for the legislation:
CANY applauded the NYS Legislature’s passage of an Omnibus Bill that addressed the crises in NYS prison and that aimed to promote increased transparency and accountability within DOCCS at every level
Democratic state lawmakers pushed through a package of prison reforms in the waning days of the legislative session in June, but their proposals fell short of what progressive reformers were hoping for.
“The Legislature did its job passing changes in the wake of two killings; the governor needs to act with speed to make them law,”
Between July and September 2025, CANY administered a survey to each incarcerated individual in NYS correctional facilities. CANY developed the questions with input from incarcerated people and DOCCS leadership and through adaptation of other survey tools2025-07-01 00:00:00
32,000 Surveys Mailed to People in Prison
The state agency responsible for monitoring the use of solitary confinement and the quality of mental health care in prisons has been kept out of state correctional facilities for about five months, according to three sources. The Capitol Pressroom’s David Lombardo
DOCCS announced that, as of August 1, 2025, incarcerated individuals would no longer be charged to make phone calls on a facility phone or tablet. 2025-08-01 00:00:00
Free Prison Phone Calls Policy Takes Effect
“Short-staffed since a strike this winter, the prison system is keeping people locked in their boiling cells and dorms for upwards of 21 hours a day.”
In August 2025, CANY released a dashboard containing data obtained from the NYS Office of Mental Health (OMH) that presents monthly facility caseload and program census reports. The dashboard also contains information on self-harm incidents, suicide attempts, and deaths by suicide
“The Correctional Association of New York on Tuesday unveiled a new dashboard detailing that the suicide rate at state lock ups spiked 108% last year.”
“Six months since the correction officer strike, issues within the New York state prison system persist. The commissioner of the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision said the department is committed to making improvements that lead to better staffing and conditions